Bhattal was unceremoniously replaced recently while she was abroad. She returned yesterday from her four-month tour to USA, Canada and England on the invitation of the Indian Overseas Congress.

Talking to media persons, she alleged that "certain leaders conspired" against her and misused the name of AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, who, she claimed, had no role in her removal. She said the name of the party high command had been misused. Capt Amarinder Singh, who had replaced Bhattal as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, had claimed that Sonia Gandhi had been consulted while appointing Chaudhary Jagjit Singh as the CLP leader in her place. She denied she was contacted by Amarinder Singh before a meeting of the CLP in Delhi to effect the change in leadership. Bhattal said before leaving the country, she had called on Sonia Gandhi and offered to resign.

While asserting that she had no lust for any office, she said she would continue to work as a "humble soldier of the party".

The former chief minister said had gone abroad to counter the Khalistani propaganda and put across the Congress viewpoint. She described her visit a success with enthusiastic response from Punjabis settled in those countries. She added that she had recommended to the AICC chief to set up NRI Congress cells at the headquarters and the state level to deal with the problems being faced by them.

On the Akal Takht hukamnama on the "langar" issue, she said it had been increasingly conveyed to her that the feelings of the people who are living in a different set-up should have been taken into account. The way of life abroad should not be overlooked while taking such decisions. She felt the Akal Takht Jathedar should send a team abroad to assess the situation and take the decision accordingly.

She claimed that moderates had captured 17 of the 21 gurdwaras with the help of the Indian Overseas Congress where elections were held recently.